Hanger for harness



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. P. SMITH. HANGER FOR HARNESS.

No. 580,232. Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

WITNESSES a [NI 5.2215 6M 7714..

v BY 7mm WM ATTORNEY (No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. P. SMITH.

HANGER FOR HARNESS. No; 580,232. Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

WlT/VE88E 8: i z M VENTOR' @M' 734/ W BY ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES I PATENT O F CE,

EDIVARD P. SMITH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

HANGER FOR HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,232, dated April 6, 1897.

Application filed October 12, 1896. Serial No. 608,646. (No model.) I

To CtZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Hangers for Harness and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in hangers for harness, and more particularly to hangers for harness which it is desired to hitch on an emergency and where speed is required in the manipulation of the same.

The objects which this invention has in'view are to simplify the construction of the hanger and to correct any tendency which the parts may have to swing after being released from the harness, and also to regulate the power which is exerted on the hanger in its various positions of operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail in side elevation of the spring-actuated hoistingwheel. Figs. 3 and 4 show a detail of the releasing-latch which holds the harness. Fig. 5 is a front view of a collar having the invention applied. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of an alternative construction of the latch.

In this hanger the cord A, which supports it, is wound at least twice on a wheel B, having a central groove B, in which it is carried. The wheel B is actuated by the spring 0, the inner end of which is held in a slot formed in the shaft on which the wheel rotates. The shaft is provided with a pawl-and-ratchet connection to the frame, whereby the spring is wound and held.

To control the movement of the wheel B in winding the cord after the harness is taken off the hanger, so it will not be jerked with a rush to the ceiling, I employ a brake D to bear against a flange B of the wheel. To allow a small wheel to make the two needed revolutions to wind suflicient cord and regulate the power on the brake, the flange B is divided, as shown, the one end turning into the center of the wheel. IVhile this effectually diminishes the tension on the spring D of the brake, it likewise diminishes the leverage of the brake-power on the wheel by reason of its running into the center. It is to avoid the difficulty of regulating the tension on a diminished circle or leverage that I employ the double shoes D and D mounted pivotally on the same brake-arm D. By this arrangement the tension on the spring is reduced and increased, as desired, the brake being maintained on the same flange continuously. To accomplish this, the shoe D is provided, which on the second revolution of the wheel goes on the flange B when the shoe D runs down theincline B of the flange. By this arrangement the greatest tension is produced on the brake when the cord A is fully extended and the spring 0 is at its greatest tension. The brake-tension is relieved as the cord is wound on the wheel and the tension on the spring 0 is relieved.

To receive the hanger-holder and buff the blow, the frame E is provided with the extension E, through which the cord A runs and against which the rubber buffer E on the hanger strikes. The buffer E is set in an enlarged cup end on the tube At the lower end of the tube E is mounted the bonnet E The tube E acts asa guide-rod for the spring E which presses down on the bonnet E and forces the flared edges thereof on top the hanger. This bonnet serves to settle the hanger when it flies upward by being forced down on top of it. The hanger in being released from the harness is first released at one end and then at the other. This produces a vibration or teeter of the hanger when not provided with the bonnet.

The frame F, upon which the harness is suspended, is forked at the rear end, and the ends are bent slightly to form hooks upon which the breeching is hung. At the forward end it is provided with a suspension releasing-latch which engages and holds a rod on the collar of the harness when the same is spread open in its normal position opened to be closed on the horse.

The releasing-latch consists in the closing jaws G and G which are pivotal] y connected. These jaws are adapted to close over and hold the rod G which is mounted on the collar of the harness. IVhen closed on the rod, they are maintained in position by the extension Gr of the locking-bar G being inserted between the upper ends of the said closing jaws G and G To throw the jaws G and G open to release the rod G when the extension G is removed from between them, I have provided the spiral spring G against the tension of which the jaws are closed.

The locking-bar is forked at the lower end, and the tines of the fork straddle the rod G At the upper end of the said rod, when the collar is closed, there is provided a small cross-bar stop G against which the end of the locking-bar G strikes when the collar is closed and the inclination of the rod G is reversed. In the end thus striking the stop G the extension G is withdrawn from between the jaws, and the spring G is permitted to throw the jaws apart to release the rod G and collar.

hen the forward end of the frame F is thus released, the strain of the hanger-wheel B instantly raises that end. WVhere the inclination of the frame is such as to drop the breeching by which the rear of the harness is suspended, that part of the harness is released and drops on the horse.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have provided for the use of a releasing device upon a flexible connection for the collar. The strap is provided on its upper surface with a trip H, which is suitably mounted on a plate H secured on the strap by rivets. This trip is so constructed and arranged that it may be raised or folded, as shown by dotted lines at Fig. 7. When raised, it stands in the path of a latch H to strike and force backward the free arm thereof. In so doing the lower end of said latch is thrown from under the end of a hinged arm H of the releasing device. The strap rests over the split rollers 11 H", the former of which is mounted on the hinged arm and the latter on the stationary arm I1 which is engaged by the spreader F. The arm 11 is hinged to the stationary arm H as shown. The roller H mounted on the hinged arm, is longer than H and bears the larger portion of the weight on the strap. WVhen the latch 11 is thrown off, this allows the arm to spread and drop the strap and permit the hanger to operate, as above set forth.

Having thus described this invention, I claim- 1. In a harness-hitch such as described, the combination of a spreader to hang the harness in position, with a spring-actuated rotary wheel having a split flange to receive a brake-shoe, and a spring-set brake, having two shoes adapted to press upon the said flange in succession to relieve the springpressure on the brake, substantially as described.

2. In a harness-hitch such as described,.

the combination of a spreader to hang the harness in position, with a spring-actuated rotary wheel, having a flange to receive abrakeshoe, a flexible connection between the said wheel and spreader to wind on the said wheel, and a buffer to spread over the said spreader to receive the impact of the spreader in its upward flight, and arrest and steady the same, substantially as described.

3. In the harness-hitch such as described, latch connecting the spreader on which the harness is suspended to the collar thereof, consisting of the hinged jaws, G, and G and the locking-bar, G adapted to lock the jaws together and having forked end, extended into the path of the releasing-stock, in combination with a hanger, G attached permanently to the said collar,and provided with the hinged stop, G adapted to be placed in the path of the forked arm of the said latch, substantially as described,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day. of August, 1896.

EDWARD P. SMITH.

lVitnesses:

E. F. DIURDOCK, BALDWIN VALE. 

